NRL 2021: Broncos confident of retaining Kotoni Staggs and Brendan Piakura
Huge signing news out of the Brisbane Broncos with Kotoni Staggs and this hyped youngster set to stay.
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The Broncos have scored a major coup in the wake of their win over the Bulldogs with Canterbury coach Trent Barrett conceding defeat in the battle for boom Brisbane back-rower Brendan Piakura.
The 24-0 victory at Suncorp Stadium gave Kevin Walters his first victory as Broncos coach and he landed a one-two punch on rival mentor Barrett by securing the signature of exciting forward Piakura.
The Bulldogs believed they had stolen Piakura after tabling a two-year, $500,000 deal, but the Broncos’ decision to up the ante with a three-year, $1.2 million offer convinced the Queensland’s under-18s stay loyal.
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The retention of Piakura is another critical plank in a Walters rebuilding mission that got out of first gear with Brisbane’s shutout of the lowly Bulldogs.
“I think he is going to stay in Brisbane,” Barrett said after the loss.
“He is a really good young player Brendan and a good kid. I’m disappointed, but he will stay (at the Broncos).
“He is athletic, he is big, he can do everything and he is a lovely kid from a lovely family.
“The Broncos have got themselves a good player.”
Walters was caught off-guard by Barrett’s revelation, but the Broncos coach insists Brisbane have the salary-cap space to retain not only Piakura, but fellow off-contract stars Kotoni Staggs and Xavier Coates.
Walters was more concerned with the euphoria of Brisbane’s drought-breaking win which injected self-belief ahead of Friday night’s daunting road trip to face Melbourne at AAMI Park.
“I am really happy for everyone involved,” he said.
“It’s been about 260 days since the boys had a win.
“When you play for the Broncos, there is always pressure to win, the players feel that naturally but I thought we were good against Parramatta and in patches against the Titans.
“It’s a good start, we are out of the blocks.”
For a team that leaked a whopping 624 points last year to claim the wooden spoon, Walters was rapt with Brisbane’s defensive efforts and he lauded centre Herbie Farnworth, who charged for 213 metres to terrorise the Bulldogs.
“Herbie was great, he works really hard on his game,” he said.
“I said from the start defence was our focus from pre-season in November, to hold any team to nil is a good result ... the most pleasing thing is the zero on the scoreboard.”
BRONCOS’ HOPES RISE AS D-DAY LOOMS ON STAGGS
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is confident Kotoni Staggs is poised to sign a $2.8 million extension at the Broncos as D-Day arrives for the NRL’s most sought-after centre.
The Sunday Mail understands the Titans have requested an answer from Staggs on Monday as Brisbane’s most lethal outside back mulls over multi-million dollar offers from the Gold Coast, Broncos, Parramatta and the Bulldogs.
The Titans are eyeing off three of Brisbane’s most exciting rising stars with Staggs, winger Xavier Coates and teenage back-rower Brendan Piakura all in the sights of Gold Coast culture boss Mal Meninga.
The Bulldogs are equally determined to launch a Red Hill recruitment raid, with Canterbury coach Trent Barrett having tabled a two-year, $500,000 deal for Piakura to potentially join Staggs at Belmore next season.
But it is understood the Broncos are closing in on securing the signature of Staggs, who has been offered a four-year upgrade to remain at Brisbane until the end of 2025.
The loss of Staggs would be a crippling blow for the Broncos, but Walters believes both he and Piakura will stay loyal after the Brisbane coach has involved himself in negotiations at a critical stage.
The Broncos were resigned to losing Piakura to the Bulldogs but Walters has upped the ante, tabling a three-year, $1.2 million deal in a last-bitch bid to keep the Queensland under-18s sensation at Red Hill.
Walters said he expects some retention outcomes over the weekend, with Staggs expected to make a definitive call on his future within days.
Unlike the Titans, the Broncos have not imposed a deadline on Tongan Test ace Staggs.
“I would imagine there will be some decisions made over the weekend with some players,” Walters said.
“I believe we can hold onto Brendan, it’s up to myself and the recruitment staff and the leaders of the club. We have to ensure his future is a positive one and successful one and we will see how the weekend goes.
“We are looking forward to a really good weekend.”
Piakura held more talks with Walters on Wednesday and will spend the next 48 hours deciding his future, with Canterbury still hopeful of luring him to Sydney.
The Titans have tabled an offer to Staggs and are believed to have raised the prospect of him wearing the Gold Coast’s No. 6 jersey next year.
Walters has also approached Staggs about a potential shift to five-eighth.
Broncos legend Gorden Tallis, now an ambassador for the Titans, said Staggs would be a blue-chip signing for whoever secured his services.
“From what I’ve seen of Kotoni Staggs, every team in the competition could do with him,” he said. “That’s not a throwaway line. He is that good a player.
“Last year before he was injured, he was a shining light in the Broncos’ most disappointing season. He was doing things others couldn’t.
“The Broncos will be throwing everything at him. Every club will be putting feelers out.”
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